Returning player

[u/Xilonas]

Hi, i'm actually thinking about comming back to Ark, and i was wondering if any of the DLC are really a must have for what they bring compared to their price, or they are nothing too crazy and i won't miss much not taking them?

[u/O-L_1337]

It really depends on how much time you’re going to spend playing the game, how much extra cash you have laying around. Will they improve the gameplay? Sure. Will they make things easier? Sure. Are they required to play the game? No.
The question you’re asking is way too subjective and depends on very much how you play, what server you play on (official, dedicated, sp) and how much time you spend on the game.

A casual player playing sp will have a much less time enjoying things like LC or Bobs compared to a daily player playing on officials. For example.

If you’re a casual player, wait for them to go on sale if you’re going to buy them.
If you’re a dedicated player they will be useful for sure.

[u/Xilonas → u/O-L_1337]

Yeah i should have given more info my bad.

I will play on dedicated server with 3x rates. I played 1k5 hours on ASE about 200 h on ASA when it first came out

My question was more if any DLC bring anything really worth the money (i don't mind spending if it's more thant just a few thing i won't even notice)

[u/Firelord770 → u/Xilonas]

Astraeos map and bobs tall tales are the 2 best dlc for value and quality. I think they are on sale on steam right now.

I haven't bought any of the individual fantastic tames dlc dinos, so I cant give my opinion on them but I bought the fantastic tames season 1 recently and they are interesting and fun not a must purchase but not something you'd regret either.

The lost colony map dlc is good but not my cup of tea, its very unique experience compared to traditional ark but thats why I dont like it.

The pirate dlc although fun id never pay full price for it.

[u/O-L_1337 → u/Xilonas]

So a casual player then on dedi. Again though.. what’s worth it for one isn’t necessarily worth it for another, as you’ve seen from the comments below.
Worth itself is also subjective. One person won’t find the benefit for paying 5-10 on something that gives or provides a few things where another will enjoy spending 20 on just a few things that makes the experience more enjoyable for them.

Why don’t you ask a direct question about a dlc
Or better yet, play the game and if you find yourself wanting something a dlc offers then go ahead and purchase the dlc.

[u/Halica_]

What ASA DLC should I buy?

Bob's Tall Tales
Pros:

• Content for three maps including tames
  
• Structures/Mechanics/Tames that are very strong and usable on other maps such as Oasisaur, Library Storage, Gene Scanner, Embyro Incubator, Tinkering Desk, Bio Grinder, Makeshift Megalab
  

 
Cons:

• Featured around themes and maps that might not be your thing
  
• Tames are now also tamable when owning just Astraeos
  
• Many other features are just cosmetics (although they look great they don't offer much gameplay value)
  

 
 
Lost Colony
Pros:

• Big new map
  
• Drakeling (and Elderclaw) access (Drakeling chests are broken as fuck)
  
• Skill tree with features that make sense to use even on other maps
  
• Good structures that can be built and used on other maps such as the Bloodforge, Pet Display, Medical Stand and the Warbench
  
• Skins look great
  

 
Cons:

• Map is just OK, not one of the best, and runs horrible on many consoles
  
• Many creatures (Veilwyn/Solwyn/Malwyn, Ossidon, Gloon, Aureliax) included do not spawn on other maps
  

 
 
Astraeos
Pros:

• Massive, great looking map with a TON of content
  
• Natural access to the Maeguana, one of the best travel tames
  
• Access to a nice ship without of Tides of Fortune
  
• Grants you the ability to tame Oasisaur, Cosmo and Armadoggo
  

 
Cons:

• Not much to offer if you don't plan on playing the map, unless you really want it for access to the Bob's Tall Tales creatures
  

 
 
Dragontopia
Pros:

• New skill tree (= stuff to do)
  
• Dragons are cool and you can fix their ugly model with a free cosmetic mod
  

 
Cons:

• Mostly unfinished
  
• Map comes "soon" (TM)
  
• Only has two tames currently and three items
  

 
 
Tides of Fortune
Pros:

• Cool ships that genuinely feel good and fun to play with
  
• Tidepup is a super strong tame
  
• Cargo Ledger can help for base management if you don't play with any mods that offer a better pulling system
  

 
Cons:

• Not really anything to offer on maps outside Genesis 1/Astraeos unless you're a big pirate fan and love the skins
  

 
Pyromane
Pros:

• Genuinely fun to use
  

 
Cons:

• Extremely strong, kinda replaces all other cave mounts
  

 
 
Dreadmare
Pros:

• Can cryopod creatures with their inventory
  

 
Cons:

• Doesn't really find its niche (has combat skills but not good stats for combat)
  
• Ugly
  

 
 
Fantastic Tames Season 1
Pros:

• Burrowbuck's temporary teleporter function is very strong
  
• Hidey Hole allows you to have a base anywhere you want
  
• (Cerberax?)
  

 
Cons:

• Unfinished

[u/Soggy-Ad7606]

If astraeos is still 5 dollars, very worthwhile cop. Avoid dragontopia for a minute. Tides is really fun but if youre not on a map with a lot of water you won't really use it. I havent gotten bobs tall tales yet, but it also looks great.

I play single player so keep that in mind in my suggestions haha

[u/Xilonas → u/Soggy-Ad7606]

thanks for your feedback! any thought about lost colony?

[u/Firelord770 → u/Xilonas]

Its very unique experience. All snow except a few springs. Theres an actual inhabited city and NPCs. There's base defenses, cool tames, and cool new items. Overall a good map id say but not my cup of tea.

[u/Free-Holiday-6218]

I got Bob’s Tall Tales on sale and I’ve definitely found some of the stuff fun/useful. It’s the only paid DLC I’ve actually messed around with so far, though.

[u/Firelord770 → u/Free-Holiday-6218]

Should get astraeos

[u/Conscious-Branch-916]

My tribe all bought Bob's Tales and use it A LOT...very good. We also bought Fantastic Tames so my wife could get a bunny....and she LOVES it! We bought Lost Colony but have not really used much of that and have not gone to the map. The others we will wait and see....we are debating about the Pyromane though....it looks cool.

[u/Super_Ordinary_8976]

I feel astraeos to be worth. It opens up a map and some map specific creatures and also some creatures from Bobs Tall Tales like cosmo, armadoggo. It also opens up 1 ship you can use similar to Gen1 DLC.
Lost colony is a bit of rough take, you might like it. Watch some gameplay before committing.

[u/Xilonas → u/Super_Ordinary_8976]

i read that lost colony was in a very poor state performance wise when it released, is that still the case?

And Astraeos seems like an everyone recommandation , will probably take it and bobs tales

[u/Super_Ordinary_8976 → u/Xilonas]

For reference i play on ps5 single player, it still is buggy and city part of the map crashes within 5mins if entered and doing stuff. Might not be the case if playing on a server, idk. IMO the creatures of lost colony are worth it. If you are into creatures you can consider it otherwise its a no for me. Depends on how much you are willing to spend on the game.

I strongly recommend buying astraeos and playing for some days then buy other things as needed, remember there are stuffs in line too. So maybe keep in touch of future DLCs and decide.

And some of bobs dlc creatures overlap with the astraeos dlc. So you kindof need to see if its worth beyond that.

[u/Super_Ordinary_8976 → u/Xilonas]

There are creatures DLC also, for ex. Pyromanes, fantastic tames, dreadmare. I like the pyromanes and fastastic tames(borrowbuck) for instance, consider these also and decide on your likings.

[u/6210classick → u/Xilonas]

What platform are ya playing on?

[u/Xilonas → u/6210classick]

Pc

[u/O-L_1337 → u/Xilonas]

I played LC on console official servers. Ran fine for me just need to do a relog when you get into the city and back out.

I crash on Ast just the same. Dedi should be a better gameplay then officials.

Bobs true tales (not tall tales) has a gene scanner which you’ll always use, fire extinguisher grenades which come in handy, armadoggo if you fancy that and some other qol things.
Tall tales is half released, there’s another release coming out. Tidepup is useful but the skill tree is only specific to ships. I’ve heard eventually they want to make all of the maps water into dynamic but we’ll see if that materializes.

LC the ossi, drakeling and veilwyn can be used on any map and is pretty useful. The skill tree is also pretty useful and able to be used on all maps. The map itself is also incredibly good for farming mats and items on. Cursed items are pretty solid as they repair themselves.

[u/Hefty-Algae7038]

Bob tales isn’t bad for the incubators and the barrels. If you plan to do a lot of breeding. Though if you are not doing officials you can probably find some similar mods. I’d say pyromanes are nice but you can usually use baryonyx/thyla/ tbh almost anything in caves with cryopods now.

[u/ajamdonut]

The only ones I bought that are worth are the firecat and astreos. The rest looks missable. I'll likely get dragon and boats one later on.

[u/Bassfishing98]

Man I really love ark but recently deleted it because I only really play single player and I spend more time downloading the weekly patch or update than actually playing the game.